The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies enhances gameplay by incorporating various skills and activities from the series’ history, enriching the in-game experience and storytelling. Whether your goal is to start a business or explore your Sim’s hobbies, there are plenty of activities to keep your Sims engaged, even during longer lifespans.
One engaging feature is hobby meetups, perfect for meeting other Sims, trying new activities, or revisiting old interests. No matter if your Sims enjoy pottery or stargazing in Nordhaven, there are many options to choose from.
How to Attend Hobby Meetups
Hobby meetups take place in Nordhaven, a vibrant new area in The Sims 4: Businesses & Hobbies. To join, you need to visit either Gammelvik or Iverstad neighborhoods at designated times on specific days, with meetups kicking off automatically as scheduled.
Traveling to any location within these neighborhoods allows access to the meetups. Keep an eye out for public plazas where gatherings are held, usually found near wooden kiosks selling snacks and beverages.
Tip: If you’re not in the area already and decide to visit Nordhaven for a meetup, consider stopping by one of the new small business venues in the vicinity. Not only can you attend the meetup, but this gives you an opportunity to explore the neighborhood too.
Attending the Meetup
Joining a hobby meetup doesn’t require any special qualifications; anyone can participate, regardless of their experience with the hobby. Meetups are organized around a sign that’s a permanent fixture in the neighborhood plazas, typically located close to the market kiosks. You can recognize these meetups by watching for groups of Sims with skill items, like pottery wheels or kilns. The sign will light up when a meeting is in progress, and you can hover over it to see details.
To join a meetup, you can interact with any available items, socialize with other attendees, or use the sign directly.
Tip: If you find it tricky to locate an ongoing meetup, look out for groups of Sims gathered together. Hover over them to see their names; if someone is part of a meetup, it will show “Meetup Attendee.”
How to Walk to Hobby Meetups
You can also use the sign to quickly reach the meetup. If it’s happening, select the sign and choose the “Check Current Meetup” option to see what’s going on. At the bottom of the pop-up, you’ll find the “Walk to Meetup” option. Select this, and your Sim will head to the right spot, ready to start engaging with the hobby or mingling with other attendees.
Note: This method will only work if the meetup has already started.
What are Hobby Meetups?
Hobby meetups serve as a gathering for Sims in Nordhaven and beyond, focusing on improving their skills. With a total of seven different meetups available, each focusing on unique skills and activities, they are free to join and follow a set schedule.
They’re similar to festivals but specifically aim to enhance skills, similar to events like the Spice Festival in San Myshuno or the Celebration of Life in Crow’s Crossing. Events vary daily, with different hobbies showcased on different days.
Tip: Hobby meetups are a great opportunity to save on skill-related items. Some meetups even provide chances for your Sims to create items to sell, adding an extra layer of profitability.
Available Hobby Meetups and Their Schedules
Nordhaven offers a wide array of hobby meetups, including:
| Meetup | Description | Time | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Co-Work | Engage in woodworking and other crafts with fellow creatives. | 8 AM – 1 PM | Iverstad: Saturday Gammelvik: Sunday |
| Galactic Gambits | Star gazing and chess at this late-night event. | 8 PM – 1 AM | Iverstad: Wednesday Gammelvik: Monday |
| Munch & Mingle | Enjoy food and drinks with friends and neighbors. | 11 AM – 4 PM | Iverstad: Thursday Gammelvik: Wednesday |
| Pottery & Pals | Get hands-on with pottery using available wheels and kilns. | 5 PM – 10 PM | Iverstad: Tuesday Gammelvik: Thursday |
| Spotlight Stars | Perform at the biweekly open mic for singers and comedians. | 6 PM – 11 PM | Iverstad: Sunday Gammelvik: Friday |
| Sweat & Socialize | Start your day with fitness and socializing. | 6 AM – 11 AM | Iverstad: Thursday Gammelvik: Tuesday |
| Writers & Readers | Join a writer’s group or book club with fellow literary lovers. | Iverstad: 12 PM – 5 PM Gammelvik: 2 PM – 7 PM |
Iverstad: Monday Gammelvik: Saturday |
Hobby meetups give your Sims a chance to thrive in a community atmosphere!
Note: If you have additional downloadable content, some meetups may offer extra activities. For instance, Sims with the Nifty Knitting pack may see individuals knitting at a Creative Co-Work meetup.
Using the Hobby Meetup Sign
Both Iverstad and Gammelvik feature a hobby meetup sign. Selecting this sign provides a menu of interactions to check on upcoming activities, view all hobby meetups, and adjust your notification preferences.
Tip: If a meetup is currently in progress, the sign will illuminate, allowing you to access the “Check Current Meetup” option, which reveals the ongoing session’s details. Hovering over the sign will also provide updates on the current meetup.
Adjusting Meetup Notifications
In Nordhaven, you must opt in or out of meetup notifications. To modify your notification settings, find the meetup sign, interact with it, and select "Meetup Notifications." From this submenu, you can enable or disable notifications for specific meetups or all at once.
All notifications are disabled by default, so you’ll need to enable them individually or select all to receive reminders.
Once enabled, notifications will appear on the notification wall at the top right corner of your screen when meetups are about to start, applicable to both neighborhoods. Make sure to be in the appropriate location to attend!
